Ballard Spahr Leads the Way in USPTO Patent Pro Bono Achievement Certificate Program

Ballard Spahr has been recognized in the Patent Pro Bono Achievement Certificate program of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), along with 14 of the firm’s attorneys and patents agents—the most of any law firm.

The USPTO certificate program annually recognizes large law firms that cumulatively contribute at least 500 hours to pro bono clients referred by regional patent pro bono programs—including Georgia Patents, Ballard Spahr’s longtime partner in the USPTO Patent Pro Bono Program. The USPTO also recognizes individual patent lawyers and agents who contribute at least 50 hours in a year. The latest achievement certificates are based on service during 2025.

The Patent Pro Bono Program is a nationwide network of independently operated regional programs that matches volunteer patent attorneys and agents with financially under-resourced inventors and small businesses to provide free legal assistance in securing patent protection.

For many years, Ballard Spahr has provided pro bono patent legal services in coordination with Georgia Patents, a nonprofit that partners with patent law firms, lawyers, and agents to provide free legal assistance to solo inventors, nonprofits, and small businesses that would otherwise be unable to afford the help they need.

In the latest USPTO pro bono certificate awards, Ballard Spahr is recognized as a firm, with individual USPTO achievement certificates awarded to:

Charley F. Brown
Sophie E. Forsyth
Alexander J. Gee
Jim Hannon
Jonathan P. Hummel
Jonas Jarvholm
Benjamin D. Kirk
Michele A. Kliem
Matthew J. Littlefield
Jamie K. Major
Brian C. Meadows
Alexander M. Porte
Sandra A. Sciascia-Zirger
Clinton R. South